A very Happy New Year to you for 2026!

This year marks ten years since The Carousel Aware Prize for Independent Authors (The CAP Awards) began in 2016, and we invite you to join us in making this tenth anniversary one to remember.

Thank you so much to all of you who have participated in The CAP Awards in some way since we began. Careers of both winning and shortlisted authors have been enhanced along the way, and thousands of euros have been donated to our charity Aware over the years.

Submissions will be open this year from the 1^st of February 2026 until the 31^st of March 2026. See submission terms and conditions. 

Where possible, the categories will be judged by previous winners of The CAP Awards. See information on this year’s judges. 

For our anniversary year we would like to make The CAP Awards the best that we can. Every aspect of the awards is run by volunteers, and all money earned on behalf of the awards goes to Aware. The awards can only continue with your help and we would like to let you know of ways in which you can be a part of our continuing success.

• CAP Awards Committee

We have been blessed over the years to have dedicated committee members running different aspects of the awards, such as, collating book entries, running PR and Media, website administration, working on graphic design and monitoring social media. 

Many of the committee have been made up of people who are indie authors themselves, those who are involved in the book industry in some way, or readers who see the benefits of promoting the indie book industry. Some members give one year (or 10), depending on their circumstances. Please give this role some consideration as The CAP Awards cannot continue without its volunteer committee members. If you would like to join the committee, please send us an email.

• Sponsorship

  Each year, individual categories are sponsored by companies and individuals related to the book industry and other interested parties who are instrumental in helping us to expand our Awards. If you, or someone you know would be interested in sponsoring one of our awards, please email us at info@capawards.ie

• Sponsoring a submission place 

  The Carousel Aware Prize offers some free submission places for writers who might otherwise not be able to afford to enter The CAP Awards. These places will be awarded to authors who meet low-income criteria. If you would like to sponsor a submission, please click here.

• Reading Groups

  The long lists for the awards are chosen by groups of readers with guidance and direction from committee members. If you or an interested group would like to come on board with this or would like some more information, please get in touch at info@capawards.ie

   

• Libraries

  Once the long lists are chosen, libraries and librarians around the country take part in choosing the short lists. We are very thankful to the librarians who continue to take part each year, and to those who take part on a once off basis. Please ask at your local library if they would like to participate in the process and get back to us at info@capawards.ie

  Without your help each year we would never have reached this ten year anniversary and we are indebted to you all for your continuing support. 

EXCITING NEWS

In the 10th Anniversary year of The Carousel Aware Prize for Independent Irish Authors, we are very proud to have An Post, winner of the Best Bookshop of the Year, Chapters Bookstore, Dublin , as our overall sponsor.

“Chapters Bookstore Dublin, is Ireland’s largest independent bookshop, known for a unique blend of new titles, extensive second-hand treasure, and a packed programme of events and community nights. We support The CAP Awards because the reality of publishing is that a book can be exceptional and still not fit a big publisher’s list: the rota is full, the category is crowded, the marketing story is hard to pitch. Independent publishing keeps those books alive, and The CAP Awards help them find visibility, readers, and the celebration they deserve, while raising funds for Aware.”

Submissions for The CAP Awards are now open in five categories and will continue until the 31st of March 2026. Please get your entries in as early as possible. See submission terms and conditions.

We have one more category awaiting sponsorship. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in sponsoring one of our awards, please email us at info@capawards.ie

Please continue to share news of The CAP Awards through the media, emails, and social media.

This year’s awards evening will take place on the evening of the 9th of October.